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US-12618579-B2 - System and method for controlling HVAC systems

US12618579B2US 12618579 B2US12618579 B2US 12618579B2US-12618579-B2

Abstract

A control device for an HVAC system is provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to control devices that facilitate adjustment of heating and cooling setpoints. In one embodiment, the control device allows for concurrent adjustment of the heating and cooling setpoints while maintaining a desired deadband value therebetween.

Inventors

  • Dennis Thoren
  • Tao Jia
  • Jacky Chen
  • Hugh Dubberly

Assignees

  • Daikin Manufacturing Company, L.P.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20231220

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An HVAC control device, comprising: a display configured to display a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint to graphically display a defined deadband value therebetween, the defined deadband value defined as a difference between the heating and cooling setpoints; and one or more user interfaces configured to allow a user to adjust the defined deadband value and wherein the defined deadband value is prevented by the HVAC control device from being less than a preset deadband value.
  2. 2 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user interfaces are also configured to allow the user to select the displayed defined deadband value and then adjust the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint concurrently by adjusting the heating setpoint or the cooling setpoint while maintaining the defined deadband value substantially the same.
  3. 3 . The HVAC control device of claim 2 , wherein the defined deadband value between the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint remains the same when the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint are adjusted concurrently.
  4. 4 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to allow the user to adjust the defined deadband value by adjusting at least one of the heating setpoint or the cooling setpoint.
  5. 5 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user interfaces include a dial.
  6. 6 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user interfaces include a touchscreen.
  7. 7 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the preset deadband value is less than or equal to two degrees Fahrenheit (2° F.).
  8. 8 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the preset deadband value is less than or equal to one degree Fahrenheit (1° F.).
  9. 9 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the cooling setpoint is prevented by the HVAC control device from being below the heating setpoint.
  10. 10 . The HVAC control device of claim 1 , wherein the heating setpoint is prevented by the HVAC control device from being above the cooling setpoint.
  11. 11 . A method of controlling an HVAC device, comprising: receiving, by a user using one or more user interfaces, a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint, a difference between the cooling setpoint and the heating setpoint defining a defined deadband value that is greater than or equal to a preset deadband value; displaying the heating setpoint, the cooling setpoint on a display to thereby also graphically display the defined deadband value therebetween; and adjusting, by the user using the one or more user interfaces, the defined deadband value therebetween while being prevented from defining the defined deadband value as being less than the preset deadband value.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising maintaining the defined deadband value between the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint the same when the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint are adjusted concurrently.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the defined deadband value further comprises adjusting at least one of the heating setpoint or the cooling setpoint.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more user interfaces include a dial.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more user interfaces include a touchscreen.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the preset deadband value is less than or equal to two degrees Fahrenheit (2° F.).
  17. 17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the preset deadband value is less than or equal to one degree Fahrenheit (1° F.).
  18. 18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the HVAC control device preventing the cooling setpoint from being below the heating setpoint.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the HVAC control device preventing the heating setpoint from being above the cooling setpoint.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising selecting, by the user using the one or more user interfaces, the displayed defined deadband value and then adjusting the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint concurrently, while the display is displaying the heating setpoint and the cooling setpoint, by adjusting the heating setpoint or the cooling setpoint while maintaining the defined deadband value substantially the same.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/139,378, entitled “System and Method For Controlling HVAC Systems,” filed on Dec. 31, 2020, which claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/956,214, entitled “System and Method For Controlling HVAC Systems,” filed on Dec. 31, 2019, and which is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the presently described embodiments—to help facilitate a better understanding of various aspects of the present embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. Modern residential and industrial customers expect indoor spaces to be climate controlled. In general, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) systems circulate an indoor space's air over low-temperature (for cooling) or high-temperature (for heating) sources, thereby adjusting the indoor space's ambient air temperature. HVAC systems generate these low- and high-temperature sources by, among other techniques, taking advantage of a well-known physical principle: a fluid transitioning from gas to liquid releases heat, while a fluid transitioning from liquid to gas absorbs heat. Within a typical HVAC system, a fluid refrigerant circulates through a closed loop of tubing that uses compressors and other flow-control devices to manipulate the refrigerant's flow and pressure, causing the refrigerant to cycle between the liquid and gas phases. Generally, these phase transitions occur within the HVAC's heat exchangers, which are part of the closed loop and designed to transfer heat between the circulating refrigerant and flowing ambient air. As would be expected, the heat exchanger providing heating or cooling to the climate controlled space or structure is described adjectivally as being “indoor,” and the heat exchanger transferring heat with the surrounding outdoor environment is described as being “outdoor.” The refrigerant circulating between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers—transitioning between phases along the way—absorbs heat from one location and releases it to the other. Those in the HVAC industry describe this cycle of absorbing and releasing heat as “pumping.” To cool the climate-controlled indoor space, heat is “pumped” from the indoor side to the outdoor side. And the indoor space is heated by doing the opposite, pumping heat from the outdoors to the indoors. In addition, the indoor space may be heated using a furnace that ignites a hydrocarbon—such as natural gas, propane, or heating oil—to provide a heating source. Whether the HVAC system is heating or cooling the indoor space is often controlled by a control device, such as a thermostat. The occupant may use the thermostat to set heating and cooling “setpoints.” When the thermostat detects the indoor space's temperature has exceed the cooling setpoint, typical thermostats send a cooling call to the HVAC system, causing the HVAC to provide a cooling function to the indoor space. On the opposite end, when the thermostat detects the indoor space's temperature has fallen below the heating setpoint, the thermostat sends a heating call to the HVAC system, causing the HVAC system to provide a heating function to the indoor space. The temperature band between the cooling setpoint and the heating setpoint is often referred to as the “deadband.” So long as the thermostat detects the indoor space's temperature is within the deadband, the HVAC does not provide heating and cooling functions. In regions where intra-day temperatures have large fluctuations, having a large deadband reduces resource consumption (e.g., electricity) by the HVAC system. SUMMARY Certain aspects of some embodiments disclosed herein are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for controlling an HVAC system. In one embodiment, an HVAC control device, such as a thermostat, allows a user to enter cooling and heating setpoints using a touchscreen, thereby defining a deadband. The user then may, again using the touchscreen, adjust the both setpoints concurrently, maintaining the previously set deadband value. Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation to various aspects of the present embodiments. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features di